Summary
A 34-year-old DOD contractor was denied a security clearance due to concerns under Guideline F (Financial Considerations) and Guideline J (Criminal Conduct). The Statement of Reasons detailed several unresolved financial debts totaling $59,916, including a $7,054 charged-off home equity loan, a $36,834 charged-off mortgage, and a $12,586 charged-off debt-consolidation loan. Other financial issues included a $1,144 cell phone collection account, a $122 charged-off credit union debt, a $124 collection account, a $201 medical collection, and an $1,851 judgment from 2011.
Additionally, the applicant had a criminal conviction for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) from January 2014. Following his conviction in March 2014, he was fined, referred to an impaired driver care management program, and had his license suspended for nine months.
Despite some efforts to address his debts, the judge determined that the applicant failed to demonstrate a responsible plan for managing or resolving his financial obligations. The judge concluded that the ongoing financial issues and the prior criminal conduct raised significant questions about the applicant's reliability and trustworthiness, leading to the denial of the security clearance.
Why the Applicant Was Denied
- Applicant has unresolved delinquent accounts totaling $59,916 since 2011.
- Applicant failed to demonstrate a responsible plan to manage or resolve his debts.
- The judge found that financial irresponsibility raises questions about reliability and trustworthiness.
Conditions Referenced
- AG ¶ 19(a)appliedInability or Unwillingness to Satisfy Debts
- AG ¶ 19(c)appliedHistory of Not Meeting Financial Obligations
- AG ¶ 31(a)appliedSingle Serious Crime or Multiple Lesser Offenses
- AG ¶ 31(c)appliedAllegation or Admission of Criminal Conduct
- AG ¶ 20(b)appliedConditions Largely Beyond the Person's ControlApplicant's financial issues were partially due to divorce and unemployment.
- AG ¶ 32(a)appliedTime Elapsed Since Criminal BehaviorMore than three years have passed without incident since the DWI.
- AG ¶ 32(d)appliedEvidence of Successful RehabilitationApplicant has maintained a clean record since January 2014.
Key Rule Quoted
“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for access to classified information will be resolved in favor of national security.”
Procedural Posture
- SOR issuedJun 7, 2016
- Answer filedJun 30, 2016
- Hearing heldDec 6, 2016
- Decision dateMar 3, 2017
Cite For
- Denial of Clearance Due to Unresolved Financial Obligations Under Guideline F
- Impact of Criminal Conduct on Security Clearance Eligibility Under Guideline J
- Consideration of Whole-person Factors in Security Clearance Decisions.